Free Web NovelChapter 115: Chapter 111: Allies Are Meant to Be Scapegoats
The late-night discussion had gone exceptionally well, prompting Velin to convene a high-level meeting the very next day.
He hadn’t been to the meeting room in a while, and it had undergone some new changes.
The original rough-hewn table, pieced together from swamp hardwood, was gone.
In its place was a long, blackwood table with a surface so smooth it reflected the white clouds drifting outside the window.
Two new tapestries hung on the walls, depicting scenes of a bountiful harvest with vibrant patterns and fine stitching.
Even the candlesticks had been replaced with sterling silver ones featuring intricate, swirling patterns.
Velin’s brow twitched slightly.
’More meaningless expenses.’
This money could have bought at least two sets of precision distillation equipment, or covered the lab’s consumables for a quarter.
His gaze swept across the long table.
Caroline was calmly sipping her tea.
She wore a lake-green long dress today, its soft hem fanning out beside her chair and outlining the lovely curve of her hips.
Sensing Velin’s stare, the Vice President kept her expression perfectly managed.
But beneath the table, her fair-skinned calves began to swing noticeably faster—she had clearly misunderstood the meaning behind his scrutiny.
Velin walked to the head of the table and sat down, his eyes scanning the attendees.
On his left were Caroline, Valerius, Ryo, and Ola, who sat ramrod straight despite being covered in bandages.
On his right were Captain of the Guard Barrett, agricultural commissioner Old Walker, and the Ranger Kael, who seemed to melt into the room’s shadows even while sitting upright in his chair.
These were the two factions that currently existed in Newly Town.
"The meeting will come to order."
His voice wasn’t loud, but it immediately captured everyone’s attention.
"The aftermath of the operation to hunt the Gray Swamp Giant Crocodile has arrived faster than anticipated."
Velin’s fingers tapped lightly on the smooth tabletop. "The Grey Marsh Territory is too conspicuous now."
He needed a shield—one that was thick enough, and substantial enough.
The Klein Clan was in Green Wheat Vein City, too far to be of help. Besides, he couldn’t afford the price of securing the endorsement of a Count, nor did he want to pay it.
Rather than placing his hopes on some ephemeral blood relation, he would choose a more reliable ally.
His gaze finally settled on Caroline’s face.
It wasn’t just because of their currently healthy profit-sharing and history of cooperation; he could also leverage the power of her formidable Count of a father—and that part wouldn’t show up on any bill.
"Therefore, I’ve decided to package this victory as a pioneering miracle led by the Golden Sail Commerce Association."
Caroline’s fingers tightened abruptly around her teacup, making the tea inside slosh.
Her eyes filled with astonishment. She stared intently at Velin, trying to find even the slightest hint of showing off or probing in his calm eyes.
Soon, it all clicked. ’This man isn’t "giving away" the credit; he’s using this scorching honor to build a wall for himself.’
He was pushing the Golden Sail Commerce Association into the spotlight to attract all the attention, while he hid behind the wall, quietly sharpening his longsword.
’That cunning bastard!’
’If it weren’t for yesterday...’
Caroline’s chest heaved, and the turbulent waves in her heart finally subsided into a complicated sigh.
She slowly nodded and uttered a single word, "Fine."
Velin met her gaze, reading the entire process in the young woman’s eyes—from shock to wariness, and finally to acceptance.
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
’As expected of the ally I chose.’
Then, Caroline cleared her throat, her voice returning to normal as she brought the meeting to its true focus.
"Everyone," her voice regained its usual cool pride, "the Origin Association, founded on the cooperation between Golden Sail and Lord Klein, has recently achieved a breakthrough."
"We have acquired several incomplete bloodline cultivation inheritances from a number of fallen noble families. After improvements by the Origin Association, they have become quite viable. The next step is to systematically cultivate a batch of Level 3 professionals, allowing them to activate their bloodlines and advance to the Extraordinary realm."
"We have named this the ’Foundation Enhancement Plan.’"
As her words fell, the meeting room went silent.
Valerius looked at Velin in astonishment; he had no idea when the Origin Association had taken on this research.
Ryo’s mouth hung open, and he seemed to be muttering something under his breath.
Even Kael, in the shadows, lifted his head slightly, his gaze as sharp as a knife from under his mask, as if dissecting the risks hidden behind those words.
Only Barrett looked at Velin with nothing but silent loyalty in his eyes.
’Bloodline cultivation!’
Ola knew very well that this was the ultimate pursuit etched into the very bones of all nobility, a core secret to be guarded at all costs!
Among his Dwarf kin, the most outstanding warriors had the chance to enter the legendary "Earth’s Core Forge" to undergo a trial and awaken a more powerful bloodline.
But now, Velin and Caroline were claiming they had mastered a method for mass cultivation?
Everyone looked at the two of them, saw their perfectly united front, and had their own thoughts, but they all came to the same realization.
’These two are in sync...’
"Um... Respected Lord Klein, Miss Channing..."
Ola stood up first, wringing his hands, his beard trembling. "My Rock Breaker Knight Order, is there any chance... we could participate in this plan?"
Velin revealed a slight smile and nodded.
"Of course, Baron Ola. But only after you’ve paid off your entire ransom."
Ola’s face fell instantly, and he sat back down in disappointment.
After the meeting, Velin stopped Caroline as she was about to head back to her room.
"I recall you saying you have a very fast albatross? Let me borrow it."
...
Thanks to the deliberate publicity from the Golden Sail Commerce Association, a carefully packaged piece of news swept through Sword Tooth Province like a storm.
A barren pioneer territory, with the financial backing of the Golden Sail Commerce Association, had annihilated a clan of Level 4 Magical Beasts that had occupied the Gray Swamp for centuries.
At first, the news was treated as a tavern joke.
But when the Golden Sail Commerce Association officially confirmed it and announced it was a pioneering effort backed by the association, all doubts vanished.
The two Knights, Mo’er and Kane, were among the first visitors to arrive.
When they stood outside the imposing, deadly-looking star-shaped fortress walls, leading the fattest goat from their lands and carrying two sacks of new wheat, they nearly pissed their pants.
They saw the faces of the commoners overflowing with prosperity and zeal, and they saw the patrolling guards clad in uniform armor, their steps steady.
Everything here silently spoke of a victory they could never have imagined.
However, their request to visit, along with overtures from five or six other representatives from neighboring Knight’s Manors, were all being held by Barrett.
"Kane... do you think... that lord... will he accept our gifts?" Mo’er’s voice was full of apprehension.
Kane couldn’t say a single word. He only felt that the figure who had waved so calmly on the battlefield had become a great mountain pressing down on their hearts.
On the tenth day, the wave reached its peak.
A troop of Knights in silver chainmail, with emblems of twin swords on a blue field embroidered on their chests, escorted a lavish carriage to a stop at the town gate.
The carriage door opened, and a middle-aged official with an arrogant expression stepped out.
He announced in a loud voice that he came from the Marquis Clan of Minas Hill, the rulers of Sword Tooth Province.
He was here for an audience with the lord of the Grey Marsh Territory, Lord Velin Klein.
